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Articles tagged with "welding"
Results: 222
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Plasma cutting stainless steel and aluminum: Investigating thermal and chemical changes in the heat-affected zoneThis study conducted at Hypertherm characterizes thermal and chemical changes in plasma-cut stainless steel and aluminum alloys and recommends process alternatives that may improve aesthetics and cut quality to improve forming and fabricating of the materials. The systems used were water-injection PAC, conventional dual-gas PAC, and high-precision PAC. It was learned that the heat-affected zone (HAZ) is small in plasma-cut pieces, HAZ varies with speed and power, faster cutting produces less HAZ, and more heat per square inch can produce less HAZ.
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Improvements to CNC plasma technology: The evolution continues with sensor and software advancesContinued improvements to CNC plasma cutting technology have made these units much more adaptable and user friendly. They have also helped improve consistency and cut quality.
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Don't rule out plasma for cutting aluminum: Clearing up the misconceptionsIn any discussion about how to cut metal, plasma cutting is right up there with laser and waterjet. The technology gets a bad rap, though, when the discussion turns to cutting aluminum. There are five preconceptions that many fabricators have about turning to plasma to cut aluminum. But according to three experts, new plasma cutting systems produce good results on aluminum.
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You can plasma cut it, but can you weld it?: Plasma cutting with the right gas and torch setup makes life easier for the welderTime spent on extensive weld prep easily can eliminate any gains made from faster plasma cutting. Put another way, it doesn't matter how fast a plasma cuts if the resulting cut face can't be welded efficiently.
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Designing for abrasive waterjet fabrication: Forethought, flexibility can help cut cornersArray
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American Fabricator: American Chopper's Vinnie, unpluggedArray
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Designing for abrasive waterjet fabrication Forethought, flexibility can help cut corners: Forethought, flexibility can help cut cornersThinking ahead during the design stage of a fabrication can save part production time, assembly time, fixturing, and, weld preparation time—and therefore, cost. Designers need to be familiar with abrasive waterjet features to optimize efficiency.
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Easing the grind of cost reduction: Automotive supplier finds success with new disks for flash removal, deburringIn early 2005 SPX CONTECH decided to evaluate the abrasive disks used in its 22 workcells for aluminum grinding in its Auburn, Ind., facility. By the end of the year the new disks had increased the number of parts processed and exhibited improved life per disk.
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Pallet changer, tower, or shelving system with that laser?: Options for storing, transferring materialsWhen fabricators decide to automate material handling in their laser cutting operations, they have several choices to make. The decision on whether to automate—and what kind of system makes the most sense—will depend on the shop's capabilities, its production capacity, and available floor space. The options cover the full spectrum, from basic systems that simply unload one pallet and bring in another to large racking systems that maintain a full inventory of raw material and cut parts and can transfer those parts to other machines in the shop.
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It's all about whyTalk about a can of worms ... From crystalline structures to phase diagrams and interstitial solutions, from microstructures to allotropic transformations, it sometimes seems that for every question metallurgy can answer, for every problem it can solve, it creates two more.
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Welding cold-rolled steel to cast iron |
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Considering thermal processes for dissimilar metals: Joining steel to aluminum in heat-intensive applicationsKnowing how to weld dissimilar metals is becoming more and more important. One reason is that it's often impossible for one material to provide the optimum chemical, physical, and mechanical characteristics needed for an application. For this reason, as well as cost efficiency, technology specialists are experimenting with different joining processes to weld bimetal joints optimally.
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Carbon content, steel classifications, and alloy steelsSteel classification is important in understanding what types are used in certain applications and which are used for others. For example, most commercial steels are classified into one of three groups: plain carbon, low-alloy, and high-alloy. Steel classification systems are set up and updated frequently for this type of information.
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Welding's effect on strengthening steelWelding can severely influence strengthened or hardened metals, depending on the hardening technique used. Because of this, post-weld heat treatment is often very helpful in maintaining weld joint strength because it softens or tempers any martensite or bainite that formed in the HAZ.
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The nanofiber factor: Nanofibers can mean a big difference in cartridge filter performanceNanofibers--fibers 1,000-times smaller than the diameter of a human hair--can help to improve filtration efficiency, filter cleanability, filter life, and energy consumption when the cartridge filters are used properly.
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Putting a few end forming basics to workWhether maintaining or changing the OD, knowing the basics of end forming—especially friction and lubrication—can help achieve a successful result.
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Sweltering heat, bone-chilling cold: Welding in extreme temperaturesThe weather affects welders no matter what climate they live in, and even more so out in the field. The key is to learn how to cope with extreme temperatures.
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Welder, beware: When, why, and how fires and explosions occurThis article provides some statistical analysis, causes for, and tips to consider regarding welding and cutting fire and explosions. It includes a sidebar about governing codes and questions to ask regarding fires and explosions when welding or cutting is suspected in an incident.
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Welding specialty metals safely: Taking a three-tiered approach to safetyThis article outlines dangers of fume exposure to welders using exotic or specialty metals. The author offers a three-tiered approach to protecting the welder from fumes.
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Escape the 'Silent Killer': How proper protection can help prevent respiratory diseaseIt was just a 20-minute welding job in a basement boiler-room, but it left the plumber feeling lightheaded and nauseated and gave him a headache that lasted until the next morning.
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Personality + Protection: Manufacturers say welders look for safety, character in helmetsBeing expected to wear more than one hat at work these days is commonplace??but not more than one welding helmet.
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Preventing welding-related fires: You can’t be too carefulBefore welding, professional and hobbyist welders must be knowledgeable about potential fire hazards and safe practices. They also must examine the work area and adjacent areas, welding equipment, and consumables for hazards and take appropriate measures to ensure safety.
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Welding hazards affect nonwelders too: Keeping all workers safeAlthough a fully clad welder can appear somewhat overdressed, each piece of protective clothing is necessary to ensure personal safety. Welders who shun safety equipment often have scars or health problems as reminders of shortcuts they took.
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Does any welding shield manufacturer make a hood with earmuffs?Does any welding shield manufacturer make a hood with earmuffs? The reason I ask is that I wear hearing aids. I teach welding and it's too hard to keep removing the hearing aids.
- K. Stevens |
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The most important welding lessonRelating personal experiences, welding professional and instructor Marty Rice discusses welding hazards and stresses the importance of learning and following all welding safety practices.
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Don't let your health go up in smoke: Learn about and prevent the effects of welding fumesAlthough the health effects of welding exposures often are difficult to predict, components of welding fumes have a range of toxicities that, under the right conditions, can affect many parts of the body adversely. Knowing what situations and welding process components can negatively impact your health is the first step toward learning how to protect yourself from those health hazards.
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Welder health and safety — Who's responsible?The "Welding Wire" e-newsletter asked subscribers their opinions about who is responsible for ensuring welder health and safety. This article describes the hazards inherent in welding and contains insight from a welding instructor, a business owner, and individuals with personal knowledge of unsafe operations.
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New rule, new equipment: Fabricators and manufacturers move toward Cr(VI) standard complianceNow that OSHA's new ruling on hexavalent chromium is official, fabricators and manufacturers across the country are examining their plants, monitoring their air, and making adjustments to reduce their permissible exposure limits (PELs) to the fumes produced specifically by stainless steel welding.
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Benefits of autodarkening helmets come to light: Personal safety equipment makes a difference in welding efficiencyAutodarkening technology has established a firm place in the welding industry not only as a piece of equipment that provides excellent protection, but also as a means to improve welding performance.
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Breathing easy: Furniture manufacturer installs upgraded fume extraction systemA manufacturer of hospital and nursing home furniture upgraded its air filtration systems in its London, Ont., Canada, manufacturing plant.
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Welding helmets in view: Five welding helmets, five sets of capabilitiesWelders looking for welding helmets have a lot of options to choose from. With everything that is available, it is important for welders to be informed of the protection levels of each helmet as well as the features each provide in order to find the right helmet for the job.
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Cleaning the air, boosting morale: Automotive stamper integrates welding capabilities, stresses employee healthAn automotive stamping plant located in Plymouth, Mich., recently integrated more welding cells. In an effort to continue with its aggressive stance on employee health, the company integrated RoboVent™ air filtration systems from Great Lakes Air Systems.
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Preventing torch fires in welding and cutting operations: Following five safety tips can reduce hot-work dangersWelding and cutting, which accounts for 1 percent of structure fires and 4 percent of nonhousehold property damage, is the most dangerous type of hot work, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Companies that weld and cut should take specific steps to increase safety and minimize the risk of torch fires. Hot work, by its nature, has a lot of hazards. Companies and their hot-work operators can protect their safety and their facilities by keeping combustibles away from welding and cutting operations; using new safety features; staying aware of conditions; and knowing and following instructions provided on the precautionary labels and in OSHA, ANSI, and NFPA standards.
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A high-flying metal fabricator: Aircraft components supplier takes off in search of new marketsFrom its beginning in 1986 as a machine shop, Custom Tube Products has changed to a fabrication shop. Along the way it has adapted to the skilled worker shortage, mainly by trading in its manual processes for automation.
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The X, Y, Z's of ManagementOwners, what do employees want? Employees, what do owners want? I know what I wanted when I was a shop and field hand, and I know what I expected when I was a boss. Now more than ever we need to strengthen the employee-management relationship.
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KNOWLEDGE: The key to welding productivity?: Study's findings have different meanings across manufacturing sectorsIn the year 2000 manufacturing, construction, and mining industries had $34.1 billion worth of welding-related expenses. At the same time more than a half million people in the U.S. had welding-related jobs -- and that's not counting self-employed and nonproduction welders.
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Making your way as a job shop today: Profitability is just one facet of successNo matter how you start up your own job shop, it takes a delicate balance to become - and remain - successful. Profitability certainly helps, but so do flexibility and diversification.
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Where is the welding management?Skilled, responsible welders can be expected to perform tasks to which they are accustomed very well. But when a brand-new project comes in, management should be careful not to give welders responsibilities they are not prepared to take. They need more than encouragement and sympathy.
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We're all in this together: Fighting negativityEven in the best of times, negativity can rear its ugly head and create problems in the workplace. In today's turbulent economic climate, fighting negativity may seem an almost impossible task. However, it's more important now than ever to keep negativity at bay. This article explains why.
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Establishing quality systems for weldingWelding codes and standards exist for a reason. They provide a framework for welders and shop managers to keep quality a top priority in their work.
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Is Your Welding Lean?Want know how lean manufacturing principles relate to your welding operation? You have to look further than just what is happening in the welding cell.
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Welding Watch - Managing Your Welding Operation: The basics of welding managementMaking a welding operation as efficient as possible requires from managers a commitment to understanding every facet of their particular operations and insistence on seeing their strategic plans through.
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Improving the bottom line in automotive applications: How to reduce the total cost of weld qualityThe automotive industry is under extreme pressure to improve the productivity and quality of its operations. Tier 1 suppliers especially are being squeezed by a combination of very competitive upfront bidding for contracts and yearly price reductions. One area ripe for savings in most automotive companies is the total cost associated with welding quality.
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Six Sigma methodology to improve ship and boat welding |
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Design for welding: Letter to an engineer |
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From Pens to Plasma CuttersWhat happens when an editor gets to weld? Let Senior Editor Eric Lundin share his first-hand experience. Visitors could try their hands at a variety of welding and cutting processes at Miller Electric's semitruck parked in Hall B at the FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show in Atlanta , Oct. 31-Nov. 2.
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Cure for the welder shortageWhat can be done to combat the skilled welder shortage? Longtime welding educator and inspector Tina Buchanan has some ideas that require cooperation among educational facilities at all levels, industry, and parents. Among her recommendations are restructuring educational programs, more industry involvement, and parental support of children's career interests.
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Where the welders are: Skilled welders are out of work, but employers can’t find them |
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Metalfab: All that glitters is metalLights. Camera. Fabricate?! You get home from work after fabricating all day, kick back with a cool one, and turn on the tube just to see more metal fabrication, on-screen, as entertainment. If it's not "American Chopper" or "Monster Garage," it's "Biker Build-Off," "Monster House" or "American Hot Rod." What's the fascination with fabrication? Do shows like these put a new spin on the image of metal forming and fabricating? Have they inspired younger generations to consider metal fabricating as a profession? Why have TV producers zoned in on these types of shows?
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Using job shop habits for a custom project: Michigan welder, machinist finds specialty jig-building a viable business optionAlthough custom welding fixtures may be just one of Ed Sauvola's current jobs, it has become one of the main business opportunities he is pursuing while deciding which track is best for his one-man shop.
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Structurally, it's a job shop: Suburban Steel doesn't operate like a typical structural steel fabricatorStructural steel shops book jobs by the shop hour. More jobs lead to more hours and inevitably longer delivery times. In many instances, just-in-time deliveries in the structural business can be measured with calendars, not stopwatches. Suburban Steel Supply Co., Gahanna, Ohio, tries not to fall into that traditional trap when servicing its customers.
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Nothing standard about this fab shop: The old approach isn't of interest to the new kid on the block, Seconn Fabrication--The FABRICATOR's 2008 Industry Award winnerRob Marelli left a family-owned metal fabricating company four years ago with the intention of doing things his way. Joined by a loyal group of managers and employees, he's found success at Seconn Fabrication. In the short time the company has been open, it has earned revenues of $9 million. And the company has done this by doing things other metal fabricating competitors aren't.
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Of cars, this specialty vehicle manufacturer can do it: Fabricating know-how and trustworthy ironworkers help M&M Vehicle Corp. to give new life to used carsM&M Vehicles Corp., Mexico, Mo., is less a car company and more of a fabricating shop. That's been the case from the beginning when Chris Miller and another employee cut diamond-plate aluminum sheet with a Skil saw blade turned backwards and then hand-bent the sheet to form boxes that graced those early used golf cars.
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Growing season: Fabricating for agriculture: FSI Fabrication helps drive efficiency at dairies and ranchesFSI Fabrication makes products that help farmers quickly and accurately transport feed, grain, and other material.
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Getting the weld right the first time: Victory Industrial Products LLC reworks its training program to improve quality effortsWhen a metal fabricating company moves into a new, larger building, it has a great opportunity to take a hard look at production flow. Victory Industrial Products, Batavia, Ohio, did just that and the results were extremely powerful.
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Rapid Creek Cutters—The second time aroundAt a time when companies are thinning the worker ranks, many people may be thinking about going into business for themselves. Pat Burrington, the owner of Rapid Creek Cutters, has worked for others and for himself. He recommends the latter.
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Welders on welding: How they feel about their jobsBased on feedback from "Welding Wire" subscribers, you have to wonder if CareerCast.com interviewed any welders when compiling its 2010 list of the best and worst jobs. Welding was the No. 5 worst job on the list, and welders question its ranking.
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Welding Report: Sorting through industry trendsMajor trends for the welding industry include developments in robotic automation, just-in-time production, and new ways to better serve customers.
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Principles of welding productivity: How three leadership techniques can improve qualityDo you doubt the merits of daily record keeping to improve welding reliability, standardize welding procedures, avoid excessive costs, and increase productivity? Read on. You won't any longer.
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How to be successful in small business: Welding shop owners share tips, experiences |
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Are your weld procedure specifications relevant?: Why compliance is important—through a weld inspector's eyes |
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Waste replaced: Considering lean manufacturing for your welding shopIf your welding shop hasn't implemented lean manufacturing initiatives, it's only a matter of time, the experts say. Learn and brush up on your understanding of lean manufacturing to see what tools might help boost your productivity and efficiency.
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Feeling the effects of a welder shortage: The search is on to find skilled workersThis article discusses the effect of the economy, education, varying personnel needs
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Editorial Advisory Board Roundtable: The education of the fabricating industryThe FABRICATOR invited the members of its Editorial Advisory Board together to discuss the state of skilled labor in North America and what the future looks like for tomorrow's fabricating and forming employees and employers.
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Rebuilding the infrastructure
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Recruit, train, and retain: The FABRICATOR's Editorial Advisory Board came together to share observations and discuss ways to attract workers to the world of manufacturing. |
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Teen race car driver promotes manufacturing careers: 17-year-old Brennan Palmiter motivates youth to follow their passionNeed help motivating young people in your area to train for manufacturing careers? Want to get them fired up about pursuing their passions? Seven Minneapolis technical schools turned to race car driver Brennan Palmiter to help them accomplish these missions. They are glad they did.
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Troubleshooting your stamping operationA common thread runs through all effective troubleshooting approaches: the skill of observation. Learn to use it to your advantage.
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Driven to integrate: Automotive component stamper branches out, adapts to industry changesChanges come often in the steel industry--a business that sticks around long enough might eventually bear little resemblance to the version established at its inception. This is the case for Parkview Metal Products, Lake Zurich, Ill. The company opened in 1950 as a tool and die shop in Chicago, later moving and shifting its focus to automotive, electronic, and grill components. The company believes its culture is changing for the better and plans to continue developing its 5S initiatives, increasing its on-time delivery, and reducing its scrap rate.
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Specifying the sulfur content of 316L stainless steel for orbital welding: Weldability versus surface finishThe widespread use of autogenous (fusion) orbital gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) in the high-purity semiconductor and biopharmaceutical industries, combined with modern steel refining technology, has made it both desirable and practical to supply type 316L stainless steel with a restricted range of elemental sulfur.
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Inspecting welds on complex tube forms: Manual eddy current optionsMany manufacturers are familiar with using eddy current systems to inspect their sheet and tubular products. Eddy current testing (ECT) is a nondestructive electromagnetic test that offers a rapid examination to detect surface-breaking flaws or cracks. It can be applied easily to straight sections of both seamless and welded tubing. Tests can be performed online as part of the manufacturing process or offline as part of a supplier or customer quality assurance check.
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Selecting a welding frequency: Research on the optimal frequency for tube productionEarly power supplies for contact and induction welding for tube production, which were introduced in the 1950s, operated at 300 to 400 kHz. Modern power supplied, introduced in the 1990s, are variable from 200 to 400 kHz. While using any frequency in this range can produce acceptable welds for most applications, finite element analysis can be helpful for finding the optimal frequency for a particular gauge and material.
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Documenting welds from an orbital welding power supply: Capturing data electronically for quality assuranceWeld inspection, weld logging, and weld recordkeeping always have been a part of quality assurance (QA) procedures for certain industries, particularly aerospace, nuclear power, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical.
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Welding zirconium and zirconium alloys: ArrayArray
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Not a one-stock shop: Throwback chopper fabricator relies on skills, not equipment, to create custom bikesAfter years of working in fabricating and machining, Shawn McFadden struck out on his own to start a fabrication shop, which later evolved into a custom motorcycle shop. He doesn’t use the latest CNC machines with digital readouts and other state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment. He uses manually controlled machines and ingenuity.
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Luminous aluminum makes light work: Meeting challenges unique to fabricating tubes into light postsHapco Aluminum Pole Products, Abingdon, Va., fabricates aluminum light posts that must be beautiful while standing up to wind, and the forces of nature.
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Curving out a niche: Chicago fabricator helps McDonald's mark milestone, reaches one of its ownIn celebration of its 50th anniversary in April 2005, McDonald's® opened a 24,000-sq.-ft. restaurant in Chicago. The restaurant's most eye-catching feature is a pair of parabolic arches that stand 60 ft. high. Constructed from 20-in. by 12-in. tubes, the arches were curved by Chicago Metal Rolled Products, an OEM component subcontractor. Operating within a tight time frame, CMRP helped the structural steel fabricator and erector, Tefft Bridge & Iron LLC, by bending the tubes in multiple locations on longer sections to reduce the number of weld splices needed.
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Welding zirconium and zirconium alloys Part II: Part II: Welding technique, procedures, and quality testingLike welding of other metals, welding zirconium successfully depends on correct application of electrical characteristics, wire feed, interpass cleaning, preheating, and heat input. Understanding the resulting surface color is key in knowing whether the weld was performed successfully or if it requires repair.
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Producing quality ASTM A249 and ASME SA 249 pressure tubesDetails are everything when you're manufacturing stainless steel pipe to exacting specifications.
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Increasing tube mill welding speed: Examining technology for tube producersThis article reviews processes that were technological advances in tube welding years ago but still have a bearing on how tube producers do their jobs today.
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Exploring the welded tube making process: The basics for fabricatorsThis article is aimed not at tube producers, but at fabricators of tubing, to provide an overview of the process.
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Skelp edge preparation for manufacturing ERW pipePreparing the edge of a metal strip properly before it enters an electric resistance welding tube mill makes a huge difference in the quality of the final product. Make sure your prep methods match your quality requirements.
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Piping in Productivity: Construction company uses orbital welding on underground pipelineUsing orbital welding equipment led to productivity gains in one of the nation's first fusion-welded underground pipelines.
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Maintaining a RF Tube and Pipe Welding Generator: How to find trouble spotsThis article separates the RF generator into seven major subassemblies and then gives tips for finding and preventing problems in each subassembly.
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Automated tube welding of heat exchangers: Converting from a manual process allows one company to increase production, expand projectsHarris Thermal Transfer Products, Newberg, Oregon, is an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)-code shop that focuses mainly on the production of shell and tube heat exchangers.
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MIAB welding of thick-walled pipe ends: Research finds ways to increase pipe thickness while maintaining quality |
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Structural adhesives form strong bond with signage: 10 questions about joining metal to metal, metal to plasticsSign-makers have long sought a way to improve durability and aesthetics and reduce the labor-intensive steps associated with welding, taping, and fastening. Today's adhesives can structurally bond metals to plastics with unique design, production and costs benefits, thereby making them an alternative to welding and mechanical fasteners for sign industry fabrication.
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Sensors in the welding environment: Which ones are tough enough for the job?From weld resistance to factor 1, sensors employ technology to deliver accurate, long-lasting operation, even in challenging welding environments. When properly applied, these systems reduce downtime and replacement costs while optimizing production.
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Sensors in the welding environment - Which ones are tough enough for the job?From weld resistance to factor 1, sensors employ technology to deliver accurate, long-lasting operation, even in challenging welding environments. When properly applied, these systems reduce downtime and replacement costs while optimizing production.
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Aluminum stands tall as a structural metal—Part 1Editor's Note: This article is Part I of a two-part article covering the properties, characteristics, and applications of aluminum as a structural metal. Part II, which will appear in the December issue of The FABRICATOR®, explores the use of structural aluminum in the design of the U.S. Botanic Garden's conservatory in Washington, D.C. Topics such as tension, compression, bending, shear, and torsion are addressed.
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Preparing for aluminum GTAW: Proper equipment setup and workplace preparation reduce defectsThere are right ways and wrong ways to set up welding equipment to accommodate the aluminum GTAW process. Welders should know how to troubleshoot this commonly used process and be familiar with how to solve some common welding problems.
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Choosing tungsten electrode type, size for aluminum GTAW |
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How to recognize, minimize weld smut |
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Inverter versus transformer power supplies for aluminum GTAW |
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Aluminum Workshop: Selecting filler wire for 5454 Al plateI have a fabrication project involving 5454 aluminum plate, and I was told to weld this alloy using 5183 filler wire. Is this correct?
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To weld or not to weld Alclad |
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Minimizing weld cleaning stripesFrank Armao gives advice on how to minimize the appearance of cleaning stripes on polished aluminum tread plate.
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Age before welding in T6Frank Armao discusses why weld strength increases when incorporating an aging cycle prior to welding in the T6 temper.
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Welding aluminum: Learning about the alloysThe first step in learning about welding aluminum is learning about the various alloys themselves (cast and wrought)—the digits used in the aluminum designation system, the properties of the various alloys, and the considerations in matching a filler metal to a base material.
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SMAW revisited—You can never know too muchNo matter how much you know about SMAW or any other type of welding, you always can learn more.
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Advanced variable-polarity plasma arc welding: Using the process for welding aluminum tailor-welded blanksThis article examines variable-plasma arc welding and its uses in the welding of tailor-welded blanks.
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Earthquake shakes joint design, building construction: Contractor tackles new seismic code welding with dual-arc machinesThis article is a case study that outlines how a California contractor retrofit existing buildings in southern California, using new construction codes to prevent further earthquake damage, while staying profitable, expanding, putting more welders in the field, using new welding procedures and consumables, and buying new equipment.
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How to Improve Your Welds: Helpful hints for GMAWA guide to the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process. The benefits of the process include its high deposition rate, efficient use of filler matel, elimination of slag and flux removal, and the reduction of smoke and fumes.
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There are welders, and there are dobbersI once worked for an ironworker general foreman named Wheeler. He was a great guy to work for because he was good with the men, and he knew his stuff. When he told you something was to be done, you knew there was a good reason for it, and that he had thought it out carefully. That's what it's all about in the field, knowing your stuff.
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Beating the welder shortage, recession blues: New welding gun, torch technology aimed at helping fabricatorsSeven OEMs of welding torches and guns talk about fabricator challenges and how they see gun and torch technology changing to help them in the future. Some challenges fabricators face are a skilled welder shortage, an economic recession, and welder safety.
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Selecting a GTAW power source: Factors to considerThe author is an end-user of power sources who shares his knowledge of how to pick a GTAW power source for an application. He considers the application, materials to be welded, power requirements, usage, time constraints, and additional capacity.
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SMAW Basics—How much do you know? |
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Mastering the art of welding—it's all about proper technique |
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Shipyard uses laser-GMAW hybrid welding to achieve one-sided welding: New system “reforms” prefabrication in shipbuildingThe Jos. L. Meyer GmbH shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, built its first wooden sailing ship in 1795. Today the six-generation, family-owned shipbuilding company designs and builds large metal cruise liners, gas tankers, and ferryboats. These floating behemoths can be as large as 162.5 by 975 feet (50 by 300 meters), and 162.5 ft. (50 m) high.
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Titanium—You can weld it! |
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MIG welding—The basics and then someWhether it's used in the shop, field, or the garage hobby shop, MIG is a great process.
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Welding Miniature Devices: Decisions to make when choosing a joining process |
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99% GTAW, 100% RAD: Aesthetic welds drive classic cars |
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Using AC for Al: How alternating current is employed in orbital GTAW |
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MIG welding tips and resources |
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Resolving the challenges of welding coated steels: How wire and shielding gas choices affect quality and productivityThe increased use of coated steels has resulted in an intensified search for solutions to the problems posed by joining these materials. High levels of spatter and welding fume, weld porosity, and poor bead shape are common. These problems lead to increased post-weld cleaning costs, reduced quality, greater rework, and an overall reduction in productivity. The right wire size and type, matched with the most appropriate shielding gas, can substantially improve gas metal arc welding (GMAW) performance on galvanized and coated steels.
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TIG welding - an overviewWelding instructor Marty Rice explains the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process, more commonly known as tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding.
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The shocking truth about welding: A closer look at TIGWelding instructor Marty Rice explains how welding power current works and how failing to follow safety practices can have shocking results. He also expands upon the information contained in "TIG welding—An overview"and discusses TIG qualities, applications, hazards, and the best way to learn TIG.
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Hanging it upIn his farewell article for thefabricator.com, reader-favorite author and welding instructor Marty Rice reflects on his life, his welding career, writing for the Web site, and his appreciation for the readers who have contacted him throughout the years. He also expresses his view about the decline of welding training programs.
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Staying grounded: Safely ground electricity when arc weldingBecause a typical arc welding setup may consist of several electrical circuits, it's critical to apply and maintain proper grounding methods within the welding area to promote electrical safety in the workplace.
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Female student achieves first for school, stateJessica Jelinski takes pride in doing her best when it comes to welding -- that's what propelled her to win first place in the SkillsUSA Wisconsin state welding competition in 2005. Today she uses that work ethic to further her welding career and teach other young people about the trades.
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Getting autobody welding down cold: Cold metal transfer helps Volkswagen meet customer demandsVolkswagen's automobile manufacturing facility in Saxony, Germany, was spending more time and effort on post-weld finishing operations than it wanted to, but because of the requirements the company was dedicated to meeting, not much automation was possible. Through its research, Volkswagen decided to invest in cold metal transfer welding, which helped the company save time and effort while keeping up its product quality.
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Arc welding discontinuitiesWelding discontinuities can affect product performance and longevity. Thoroughly understanding the various defects, their causes, severity, and remedies can help ensure high-quality and superior performance. This article presents an overview of welding defects and discusses design strategies to help prevent them.
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Drive fast, weld right: Motorsports fabricators use more than tools to build topnotch race carsOf all the fabrication tools necessary to build -- and repair -- race cars, welding equipment is one of the most essential. To keep a race car together, safe for drivers, and at its competitive best, welding and metallurgy come into play every day in the motorsports industry.
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Moving to modular welding fixturing: Process control improvement drives tank fabricatorWrayco's progression from dedicated welding fixturing to modular fixturing has reduced storage space and maintenance, created faster setups for critical prototypes and quick-turn projects, and improved quality control.
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Pressure to perform: Pressure vessel fabricator compensates for worker shortage with increased productivityA fabricator of large pressure vessels implements a welding power source to help it meet growing customer demand and ensure stringent quality standards without expanding its work force.
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Arc Welding 101: ArrayI am building a 400-gallon paint tank and I'm having trouble with leaks when using gas metal arc welding (GMAW).
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Welding austenitic stainless steel: Tips for optimal GTAW performanceJoining austenitic stainless steel with GTAW can be tricky, but with a little preparation and care, it can be done successfully. The three main factors are having the right amount of heat input, travel speed, and a shielding gas.
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Blasting the bottleneck blues: Mechanical contractor increases pipe welding productivity 500 percentA mechanical contractor that fabricates carbon steel water pipe addressed its need for welders, as well as a bottleneck situation originating at its welding station, by converting from shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) to gas metal arc welding (GMAW).
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Welding shop economicsThe prices of materials consumed in your welding shop aren't the only materials-related economic considerations. How you use those materials affects the bottom line. Monitoring compressed-gas usage and looking for areas of waste can improve your shop's financial picture. This article offers practical suggestions for reducing waste.
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Welding ASTM A514 or A514M-05 steel?: Before you do, take a close look at filler metals, heat inputAs manufacturers strive for lower costs and greater efficiencies, they tend to substitute high-strength materials for standard materials. One such high-strength material is ASTM A514/514M-05. Although it is not difficult to weld, joining it successfully requires paying close attention to the preheat temperature, interpass temperature, and filler metal.
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Planning a career in welding: A young person's guideWelding can be a rewarding career. To be successful and satisfied in welding or any career requires planning, preparation, and pursuing a job you love. This article provides an overview of welding as a career, describes different opportunities, and lists resources that can help you to become a welder.
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Why welders need advanced trainingBecoming a skilled welder involves both hands-on and technical training from secondary and postsecondary instruction. Who should teach what and when to ensure that today's welders have the necessary skills? Longtime welder and welding professor Carl Smith shares his views.
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Let 'er rip: College students learn real-world skills in vehicle fabrication competitionBob Hollingsworth, a member of Practical Welding Today's advisory board, details the journey of the 2006 Western Washington University Mini Baja vehicle fabrication team and their quest to build a winning off-road, student-designed racing machine.
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Fabricator finds new opportunities in energy sector: Green applications for advanced pulsed GMAW |
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No hay nada más sano que una bocanada de aire fresco: Cómo controlar los riesgos para la salud por vapores de soldaduraAlgunos riesgos para la salud relacionados con soldar, especialmente la soldadura por arco, son obvios. Por ejemplo, un soldador sabe que no debe ver el arco. Este artculo ayudar a los soldadores a reconocer y a controlar los riesgos para la salud relacionados con los vapores de soldadura.
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Why in the heck would you want to weld?Two years ago, welding expert and reader-favorite author Marty Rice took a hiatus from writing for thefabricator.com. Marty has returned, and in this, his first article for 2008, he discusses why he welds and offers insights that may help others decide if welding is a viable career choice.
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Salvaging damaged shaftsShafts are critical components of many machines, and a damaged shaft can hamper or halt production. Some failed shafts can be repaired and others can't. This article can help you determine which can be repaired and what to consider when attempting repairs.
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Putting the spin on benchtop positioners for tube and pipe welding: Features and capabilities for rotating round workpiecesWelding around any kind of circular piece can be a challenge. To make a fillet weld in the horizontal position, you will have to maneuver around the workbench, maintaining a constant arc if you wish to make a continuous weld. This type of work may be acceptable if you need only a few pieces, but can become tedious on production runs. One solution is to rotate the workpiece past the welding arc with a rotating welding positioner, such as a small- to medium-size benchtop machine.
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Go! Brennan: Putting the pedal to the metal and taking the metal to the classroomWho can inspire a young person to pursue a welding career better than a peer who welds? How about a peer who also is a stock car driver? Racer and welder Brennan Palmiter has teamed up with the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA) Foundation and Practical Welding Today® magazine to introduce more young people to manufacturing careers.
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Virtually welding: Training in a virtual environment gives welding students a leg upToday several companies offer technologies that help beginning welders get that hand motion just right. None claims that the technology will replace the real thing, of course, but they do say that training in the virtual world can give students a significant leg up by the time they weld for the first time. It helps teach students what really happens between the welding arc and workpiece, why certain hand motions produce good beads while other motions don't. And it also may help introduce welding to students who wouldn't have given the trade a second thought.
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The facts on welding titanium: American Welding Society D1.9 Structural Welding Code is a new tool for welders' toolboxesA new resource tool takes away the guesswork and the apprehension when welding titanium: The American Welding Society (AWS) D1.9/D1.9M Structural Welding Code—Titanium. Released in July 2007, the code goes beyond the limitations of previous documents by providing the information required to engineer a structural titanium product from start to finish.
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Learning TIGThink you want to learn TIG welding, also known as GTAW? To master the craft and avoid injury, it's imperative that you receive proper instruction. TIG is not a process that lends itself to self-teaching. This overview compares TIG with other welding processes and outlines some important steps of the process.
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What do companies want from their workers?In his extensive career as a welder and welding instructor, Marty Rice has learned a thing or two about the qualities companies look for in their employees beyond skill proficiency. This anecdotal article discusses these qualities and their importance from Rice's perspective.
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20,000 welds under the sea: Maintaining and repairing the world's largest shipsA Florida company specializing in underwater inspection, maintenance, and repair of deep sea vessels needs reliable, safe, and portable equipment to ensure that the job can be done anywhere in the world.
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Becoming the best danged welder on the block"Welder wanted" signs abound in many areas of the U.S., and welding instructor Marty Rice believes there's never been a better time to pursue a welding career. How do you make your welding career the best it can be? Following certain guidelines can help.
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GTAW the thin line: Best practices prevent common problems when welding thin materialGas tungsten arc welding thin metals can bring up an array of problems. Fortunately, best practices can prevent those problems from occurring in the first place.
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Welding hazards and how to prevent themFour of 1,000 welders lose their lives each year, and many more are seriously injured because they fail to follow safe welding practices. Welding hobbyists who follow the examples set on television are particularly susceptible to injury. In this article, Marty Rice reflects on moments in his welding career that illustrate the importance of welding safety.
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TIG for titanium tubing: Success hinges on filler metal selection, cleanness, gas coverageAlthough titanium has a reputation for being difficult to weld, it doesn't have to be problematic. Paying close attention to filler metal selection, cleanness, and use of the shielding gas are three steps to successful GTAW on titanium tube and pipe.
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Measuring up as a welderAmong the skills employers look for in their welders is the ability to read a tape measure correctly. Surprisingly, not everyone can do so. Welding instructor Marty Rice shares an anecdote from his welding career that illustrates how critical it is for welders to master this skill.
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Think females can't weld? Think againDuring World War II, many females filled work force roles in traditionally male occupations. After the war, most left these jobs, but that doesn't mean women are any less able to fill them. Experience has taught welding instructor Marty Rice that females make danged good welders.
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GTAW la delgada linea: Las mejores practicas evitan problemas al soldar material delgado |
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Learn your trade, pay your dues: Advice for new weldersWelding jobs may not be as plentiful as they once were, but welding instructor Marty Rice believes a lot of welding work is "waiting to bust loose once the economy straightens out, and there's always work in welding, if you're willing to pack a suitcase." Rice has some advice for those embarking on a welding journey.
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Stick welding: Tips for top performance: 5 steps can help a welder avoid getting stuck with poor weldsA beginning stick welder can produce better welds by payingattention to the five basic elements to establish a good, consistenttechnique: current setting, length of the arc, angle of electrode,manipulation of electrode, and speed of travel.
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Newbie mistakes made, experience gainedAll welders are newbies at some time in their careers. Following Marty Rice's advice for newbies can help you with more than your welding career. Learn from the man who's been there, done that, and has the scars to prove it.
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Common technical mistakes new welders make and how to avoid themDid you hear the one about the welder who was tired of bending over to weld and made the fatal mistake of using a 55-gallon drum as a welding table? In this article, welding instructor Marty Rice discusses this mistake and describes some common technical mistakes new welders make, some more serious than others. All can be avoided.
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Arc Welding 101 - Preheating a shaft-sprocket assembly: Preheating a shaft-sprocket assembly |
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Arc Welding 101 - Paint tank troubles: Paint tank troublesI am building a 400-gallon paint tank and I'm having trouble with leaks when using gas metal arc welding (GMAW).
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Building a business: Minnesota couple learns how to market residential, custom iron artDel and Sally Halling started a business together, selling the custom residential iron art they create. Through their process, they found that much marketing and research was needed before they could be successful.
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Terrorist attacks inspire Washington welder: Nonprofit organization, memorials aimed at rallying American spiritJohn Jackson is a welder in Lacey, Wash. who has started The Spirit of America Foundation with a group of people. He established the foundation so that memorials to honor those who were killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
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Christmas All YearNear Conway, Mo., alongside Interstate 44, lighted reminders of Christmas greet travelers year-round. Conway is home to the Den of Metal Arts, where owner Richard Kerb; his wife, Judy; their son, Ron; and three employees hand-fabricate and sell metal silhouettes depicting holiday signs, scenes, and characters; military, western, and sports themes; animals; and custom figures.
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Washington women weld at the 'Y': Students learn by doing in their community |
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Entry arch and gates based on history use modern technologies |
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A Great Combination: Artist, fabrication shop team up to create giant-size sculpture |
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Larger-than-life objects equal memorable sculpturesAlmost every artist blacksmith learns to make small animal heads from rods and often hammers petal-like shapes into flowers. But some 'smiths go far beyond these exercises and make items that are so much larger than life that they fall into the category of expressive sculpture.
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No good deed goes unnoticed: Welders give of themselves in industry, communitiesBeing a good welder often means more than on-the-job performance. Whether it's volunteering to help others or otherwise giving back to one's community, these welders are examples of so many who take their time to give of themselves on the job — and outside the office.
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Magical, mystical metal: The art of Richard WilsonRichard Wilson's metal art reflects his appreciation for metal's lesser-known intrinsic qualities. This article explains how Wilson became a welder and metal artist and describes the materials and processes he uses. It details one project from start to finish. It also offers insight into the future of the welding labor force from Wilson's perspective as a welding instructor and manufacturing consultant.
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A recycled dream: Tennessee welder finds success one scrap at a timeA Tennessee artist and welder uses scrap metal parts to create one-of-a-kind metal sculptures.
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Lost and foundA welder from Bost makes realistic scupltures depicting boats, motorcycles, cars, and planes using discarded junk found in garbage piles, yard sales, flea markets, and dumps.
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Using the tandem welding process to your advantageTandem welding power source technology now is able to meet the demands of many applicants for which welders many not expect it to be useful.
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Selecting equipment for a robotic welding workcellSo you've decided to automate your welding process. Now it's time to select the equipment that performs the robotic welding. It's critical to take care choosing the appropriate equipment and an integration partner.
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The challenge of robotic welding aluminum: Understanding fundamental equipment repairs |
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Playing it safe with robotic welding: How machine-safeguarding equipment can protect robots and operators |
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Welding robots and lean manufacturing learn to play togetherWith careful analysis and planning, automation can be an integral, cost saving component of lean manufacturing.
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Positioning your welds: Design objectives for robotic welding fixturesRobotic welding can improve your productivity, but only if your fixturing design lets you. When you're designing fixtures for your welding application, consider your fixture's material; welding circuit optimization; orientation and deposition rates; accessibility, repeatability, simplicity, and dependability; and alternatives to fixture design when design costs are prohibitive.
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How to keep automated welding from going around in circles: Laser-based seam tracking proves to be the answer at A.O. Smith's American Water Heater Div. facilityThe move from manual welding to some form of machine or automated welding has been going on in all industries--including water heater manufacturing--for years. It's part of a desire to improve productivity and quality. A.O. Smith's American Water Heater Div. in Johnson City, Tenn., learned that first-hand.
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Auto weld that ends well: Manufacturer of Tommy Gate liftgates for trucks finds success with robotic weldingRobotically welding a part made sense for Tommy Gate Co./Woodbine Manufacturing, Woodbine, Iowa, so they then made plenty of cents available to invest in a robotic welding cell from Genesis Systems.
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Keeping welding costs from spiraling out of control: Skyline Steel sees laser seam tracking as the answerSkyline Steel, a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal, recognized in 2001 that for it to win contracts for high-end projects requiring high-pressure and high-strength steel spiral pipe, it would need to become more competitive in price. That's why the company turned to Servo-Robot Corp. and its AUTO-TRAC laser vision seam tracking for pipe welding.
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Robotic pipe welding with a human touch: Keeping the operator involved in the act of automating pipe weldingAutomation has emerged as an alternative to manual welding, but these robotic and fixed automation technologies tend to work for specific applications, rather than general pipe fabricating. Automation coupled with the flexibility of a human operator during the welding process, however, represents a new alternative for those companies looking to squeeze more productivity out of the pipe fabricating process.
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Electrode wear in air, oxygen plasma: How to tell good electrode wear from badA trained plasma technician can tell a lot about the health of a plasma system if he learns how to inspect the electrode, understands normal wear patterns, and knows how to spot signs of trouble. This article shows the difference between good and bad wear in air and oxygen plasma systems.
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Examining the finer points of 6010, 6011, and 7018Knowing which rods tend to do what in the field can save you time and make for better results when the job is through.
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Choosing the right shielding gas and supply system for GMAWSelecting the right shielding gasses for your welding operation can mean the difference between mediocre production rates and peak efficiency.
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Selecting the correct shielding gas and gas delivery systemRequirements for selecting shielding gas, filler metal, and welding processes are well- documented to help welders ensure high quality and consistency in their welding applications.
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An Introduction to metal-cored wire: 6 questions to askMetal-cored wire is a tubular electrode that consists of a metal sheath and a core of various powdered materials, primarily iron. The core of metal-cored wire contributes almost entirely to the deposited weld metal.
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Cool your torch: How to troubleshoot, repair, and maintain PAC cooling system componentsYour car engine's water-cooling system has a lot in common with the cooling system in your plasma cutter: Both use water and coolant, a pump, cooling hoses, and a heat exchanger to remove energy from a heat source.
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Order for earthquake resistance in the court: Self-shielded electrodes help contractor weld to FEMA specificationsNew construction abounds all over the U.S., and Seattle is not immune to this trend. In 2002 an open-looking courthouse was completed, rising 387 feet above the city skyline.
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Don't throw away your profit margin |
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Selecting a shielding gas for joining stainless steel: The right choice is critical for success |
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Getting your assets in order: Choosing a gas delivery mode to improve efficiency |
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Who you gonna call?: Tips for choosing a welding and gases distributorShopping around for a welding gases distributor involves several key issues critical to a successful long-term business-distributor relationship.
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The need to feed aluminum: 5 aluminum GMAW FAQsWhile using aluminum can present challenges in any welding application, knowing the right questions to ask beforehand will help aid success. Issues include knowing what aluminum filler metal to use, how to store it, and what options are available to help eliminate feeding problems.
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Cracking the case: How to choose the right filler metals to weld AR plateBefore welding abrasion-resistant plate, it's important to take certain precautions and choose the most appropriate filler metal for your application and weld metal.
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Beyond Commodity: Understanding and justifying a process change to metal-cored wiresBefore making a process change to metal-cored wires, it is important to establish a baseline to measure the potential for improvement, know the wire's capabilities, and be able to justify such a change.
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The tipping point: How contact tip recess affects GMAW qualityIncorrect contact tip recess can cause excessive spatter, burn-through and warping, insufficient penetration, and porosity. Welders who become familiar with correct tip recess can avoid these problems as well as unnecessary equipment upgrades yet still improve GMAW quality.
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Keeping consumables from consuming welding profits: New welding tips help truck, trailer manufacturer cut costsLike every manufacturer these days, truck and trailer manufacturer Tico Manufacturing Inc. can't afford to waste any time on non-value-added activities. It recently switched its welders to Centerfire™ nonthreaded contact tips manufactured by Bernard®. These tips require replacement about once every two weeks; the previous tips were replaced three times a day. And because they are unthreaded, the tips take much less time to replace.
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Welders turn to induction heating for preheating, stress relievingThis article discusses using induction heating for preheating and (postheating) stress relief of welds. It focuses on what this technology is, how it works, and how it can be used in an industrial setting. This article also gives several real-life examples of how the technology has been used in actual applications.
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Investigating applications, hardware, collision protection, and height controlUsing orbital welding equipment led to productivity gains in one of the nation's first fusion-welded underground pipelines.
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Frequently asked questions about hardfacing: Understanding what it is and how it’s used |
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Incorporating beveling economically: Evaluating joint design, welding processes for edge preparationWhile beveling is known as a common procedure used to shape the edges of thick plates or pipes for welding, not everybody knows how to make the process cost-efficient in the overall welding operation.
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Details on Domex 700 MC: Joint prep, welding this extra-HSLA steelDomex 700 MC, an extra-high-strength HSLA steel, can use milling and thermal cutting to prepare a joint for welding and most common fusion welding methods to joint it -- but a few specifics regarding filler metal are important to know before welding this steel.
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How to perform tack welding successfullyTack welding, a necessary preliminary step in many welding projects, must be performed correctly to achieve optimal results from the final weld and to minimize part defects. Quality is as important in tack welding as it is in the final weld. This article describes proper tack welding conditions.
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A new way to weld sheet metal: Remote laser welding replaces spot welding in microwave oven fabricationNu-Way Industries Inc., Des Plaines, Ill., learned that remote laser welding demonstrates impressive advantages over traditional resistance and arc welding for its applications.
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Fiber lasers weave out of the lab and into metal fab: Higher power, better beam control, more integrationFiber lasers, which have been a hot topic in laser conferences for several years now, are finally starting to appear en masse in the industrial laser market. Fiber laser technology is driving power scaling (pulsed and continuous wave), wall-plug efficiency, and beam quality to new heights in a rapid pace.
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Will your weld hold up? Discovering and preventing incomplete fusionThis article examines the common weld defect known as incomplete fusion. It takes an in-depth look at the causes of this problem, how it is detected, and how to prevent it.
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In-service weld defects, Repair, replace, or do nothing? |
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Fatigue FailuresFatigue causes the majority of mechanical element failures in structures and machinery. It is important to understand the causes of the failure and how to prevent or repair it.
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What you don't know about spot welding: Some lesser-known uses of resistance welding equipmentResistance welding equipment has many uses that many people often don't think about. Everyday items that some may not associate with resistance welding owe their very existence to this versatile process.
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Exercising control: Resistance welding companies strive to boost process reliability, repeatability |
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Revving up weld quality: Ford Development Center uses RW system to reduce costs, improve quality |
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Why use multiple-impulse resistance welding?: An explanation of the process, its heat balance mechanismMultiple-impulse welding isn't uncommon, but it's not usually the first choice for most resistance welding applications. However, experiments with this type of resistance welding demonstrate that it has a wider range of applications, especially when its modified heat balance is understood
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Mode of least resistance: Understanding control modes in resistance weldingWith the advent of transistorized controls in resistance welding, power supplies are available in which feedback can be used to control current, voltage, or power delivered. The use and benefits of these control modes are not well understood, leading to underutilization of the technology. It is important to understand the fundamentals of the control modes as applicable to DC and inverter power supplies and the special situations that you might encounter in their application.
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Don't forget the fixturing: Consistent fixturing ensures consistent robotic weldingDon't forget a component of the system sometimes can dictatewhether a robotic welding integration succeeds or fails: the fixturing.
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Turning the corner on making doors: North Carolina company streamlines the processA small fabricator North Carolina, family-owned company manufactures standard and custom electrical enclosures for the commercial construction industry and a growing number of OEMs.
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Rolling it just so: BEPeterson takes precision roll bending to another levelContract manufacturer BEPeterson takes tight roll-bend tolerancing to the extreme: some cans are rolled to +/-1/32 inch on the circumference.
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Optimizing repair welding in oil refineries: Getting out from between a rock and a hard placeA refinery is a complex array of pressure vessels, piping, structural carbon steel, and other components that depends on welding for its structural integrity. A minor problem can have enormous cost and safety implications.
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Making structural repairs in the field: Tips for solving typical problemsPlanning, gas, rigs, tips, location, and cutting all have significant effects on field welding jobs. Taking these into account may save you a lot of time and trouble when doing repair on structural members.
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The future of structural welding |
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Testing new waters Down Under: Australian auto industry looks to benefit from lasers, information sharingCapitalizing on the latest laser and information sharing technology, theAustralian auto industry is working to achieve critical mass within itsdomestic market and to take advantage of the opportunities offered bye-commerce.
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Fanning production rates: Fabricator quadruples fan production with cutting systemEditor's Note: This article is Part II of a four-part series covering flatness and stability in cut-to-length, slitting, and tension leveling operations. This article discusses flattening solutions and the anatomy of a bend. Part I, which appeared in the October issue of The FABRICATOR®, discussed how flat-rolled metal gets unflat; Part III in the December issue will address how coil processors can make metal flat so it stays that way; and Part IV in the January 2003 issue will discuss new applications and options in leveling equipment.
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Will a robotic laser system cut it?: Find out what it can do before you decideAlthough robotic laser cutting systems have advanced over the years, you should know exactly what one can do before you decide if it's right for you. To find out whether you should choose robotics to laser-cut your parts, you first must consider several factors, starting with what is in a system.
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Laser cutting and welding with one tool: Is one head better than two?Today's laser sources have the power and beam quality needed to cut and join metal in an expeditious and repetitious manner. The market demands that type of flexible production, so those characteristics are basic requirements in modern laser devices. The market demands also have promoted the idea of multifunctional processing. That has led to the development of a combination head capable of laser cutting and welding 3-D metal work pieces.
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When does a punch/laser make sense?: 3 Questions a fabricator needs to askHawkeye Industries Inc., Tupelo, Miss., was getting more and more orders for parts that required both punching and laser cutting. To meet the growing demand, the company purchased a combination punch/laser machine. Some shops are more suited than others to this technolgy--combination machines can increase profits for some companies, and costs for others. Shop owners should keep five key things in mind when evaluating and purchasing a combination punch/laser machine.
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